Real Madrid's coach Jose Mourinho adjust his scarf during the soccer match against Manchester United during the Champions League at Santiago Barnabeu stadium in Madrid. ...

Manchester United's Robin van Persie watches as Real Madrid's Raphael Varane from France tries to intercept the ball during the Champions League match between Real ...

Real Madrid's defender Sergio Ramos reacts during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Real Madrid and Manchester United at ...

Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring during the UEFA Champions League match between Real Madrid and Manchester United at the Santiago Bernabeu ...

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney prepares to take a corner during the Champions League soccer match against Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid. Reuters

Danny Welbeck and Cristiano Ronaldo headed a first-half goal apiece as Real Madrid and Manchester United played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the last-16 of the Champions League on Thursday.

Former United star Ronaldo levelled on 30 minutes with his seventh Champions League goal of the season, making him the top-scorer in the competition, after Welbeck had headed home a corner 10 minutes earlier.

Alex Ferguson had promised goals before the match and they came early enough, but then his team put on a battling performance with David De Gea excellent in goal to take a draw into the second leg at Old Trafford on March 5.

Before kick-off all the talk was about the exclusion of a centre-half on either side.

It was expected that Pepe, who has only managed 25 minutes since an ankle operation at the turn of the year, would not be risked in such a big game for Real.

Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring against Manchester United at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid. AFP

However, the omission for the visitors of Nemanja Vidic was a surprise after the Serb failed to even make the bench after captaining his side in a 2-0 win over Everton on Sunday.

Sami Khedira had the first effort for the home team in the second minute on finding space in the area, but he pulled his shot well wide.

Next it was Angel Di Maria who tried his luck from outside the area before De Gea tipped a goal bound shot from Fabio Coentrao onto the post.

United weathered the early storm and when Welbeck and Shinji Kagawa combined well to win a corner on 20 minutes it was Welbeck who eluded the marking of Ramos to head home the opening goal and his first in the competition this season.

Ronaldo hammered wide the rebound of his own blocked free-kick before grabbing the equaliser 10 minutes later when he leapt above Patrice Evra to head home a Di Maria cross from the left.

Manchester United's Danny Welbeck celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Real Madrid during their Champions League soccer match in Madrid. Reuters

Moments later Welbeck was inches from his second after good work on the left by Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney shot wide from the resultant corner.

A minute later De Gea made the save of the game stopping Coentrao from close range with his outstretched foot.

Then Van Persie had two chances within a minute to restore United's lead with 20 minutes remaining.

The first shot was pushed onto the bar by Diego Lopez after Rooney had played him into space before he miskicked an easier chance.

United's defensive play grew throughout the game, the experienced Rio Ferdinand organised well the centre of defence, while Michael Carrick aided by Phil Jones and a very deep Rooney tidied up a lot in the centre of the pitch.

When Madrid did get through in the final minutes it was again Madrid-born De Gea, signed from city rivals Atletico, who was at hand to save from Khedira on 80 minutes.

There was still time for Ronaldo to float a free-kick just over the bar and Diego Lopez to tip wide a Van Persie shot in injury time.